During Hispanic Heritage Month, Eva Vega came to the Pioneer Haus in the Pioneer Student Center to speak about diversity and her life as a Latina.

Photograph by Kate Olsen
Eva Vega, diversity trainer, public speaker and a former New York City comedian, performed as part of Hispanic Heritage month.

According to the UW-Platteville Web site, Vega is a diversity trainer, public speaker and former New York City comedian.

Vega has worked in university programs for 12 years, and has been a diversity trainer for eight years. This is her second time speaking in Wisconsin, and her first time at UW-P.

Vega was born and raised in New Jersey. She grew up in a traditional Puerto Rican home, yet she did not understand or speak Spanish, with the exception of a few phrases.

Vega started off by telling the audience about her childhood and her life up to where she is now. Vega spoke about the expectations put on Latinos to fit into stereotypes. They discussed what stereotypical Latinos are expected to eat, wear and speak. Vega experienced racism during college and while working at a university. For instance, Vega once went into a store, and an employee yelled at her to get out and called Vega a racial epithet. Another example was while in line to go through security at the airport. Her belongings were taken from her and she was asked a series of questions about her intentions.

According to FBI statistics, hate crimes against Latinos have increased over the past six years.

Vega also spoke about racial jokes that people say everyday like “it’s no big deal.” Vega stated that many people in the U.S. are xenophobic, defined as people who have a fear of people who are not from America.

“Everyone in this room has the power for leadership,” Vega said.

Student Organization of Latinos has many other events planned for Hispanic Heritage Month.

“I enjoyed what Vega spoke about. It was very enlightening,” Vanessa Martinez, communication technologies major and also the president of SOL, said.